Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, chairman and managing director of Qatar Petroleum/ Energy & Industry Minister/ Deputy Prime Minister.

As head of Qatar’s state-owned oil and gas body, Al-Attiyah is responsible for driving the state’s position as the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier in the world. From 1973 to 1986, he held senior positions in public and international relations within the Finance & Petroleum Ministry. From 1989 to 1992, he took on the role of director of the Interior Ministry before moving to his current position in September 1992. Al-Attiyah has largely been responsible for shaping the development of Qatar’s gas industry, luring a host of international oil companies (IOCs) to its sector to successfully propel growth primarily at Ras Laffan and Mesaieed. Al-Attiyah recently served as chairman of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.

Contact - Tel: (+974) 440 2000

Faisal al-Suwaidi, chief executive officer (CEO) and vice-chairman of Qatargas

Al-Suwaidi has held this position since 1997. He is vice-chairman of Qatargas 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the Laffan refinery project, as well as being chairman and CEO of the Qatargas operating company. Along with Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas), Qatargas has been responsible for the huge growth in the state’s liquefied natural gas industry in the past decade. Al-Suwaidi joined Qatar Petroleum (QP) as a trainee clerk in October 1972. After initial training in Dukhan, he was sponsored by QP to study in the UK, obtaining his diploma in business management in 1978. From 1978 to 1989, he held a variety of positions with QP’s administration arm. In 1992, he was appointed managing director of Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) before landing the top role at Qatargas. Suwaidi also sits on the boards of QP, Qafco, RasGas, Nakilat and Qatar University.

Contact - Tel: (+974) 473 6000

Alex Dodds, president and general manager of ExxonMobil Qatar

ExxonMobil Qatar is one of the largest international investors in the state’s energy industry. Exxon holds stakes with Qatar Petroleum (QP) in most major gas projects in Qatar, with the two companies working together since the late 1980s. In terms of liquefied natural gas, Exxon holds ventures with both Qatargas and Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas), including the Barzan gas development programme. Prior to taking up his role as country chief for Exxon in August 2006, Dodds was managing director of RasGas, a joint venture of Exxon and QP. Dodds took the helm at RasGas from Jerry Wolahan, who moved to a management position at Exxon’s headquarters in Houston. Before heading RasGas, Dodds was president of ExxonMobil Canada. He has more than 25 years of oil and gas experience, with the bulk spent with ExxonMobil.

Contact - Tel: (+974) 434 9318

Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi, managing director Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company (RasGas)

Hamad Rashid al-Mohannadi joined RasGas as managing director in April 2007. He has served as a board member since 1993 and sits on the board of eight other Qatari energy companies. Prior to joining RasGas, Al-Mohannadi was general manager at Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco), and from 2005 he took on the general manager’s role at Qatofin, another state-backed petrochemical company. Al-Mohannadi has played a key role in developing Qatar’s energy industry, having spent more than 25 years working in the sector. After taking the top role at RasGas from Mohamed Saleh al-Sada earlier this year, Al-Mohannadi is working on delivering the company’s existing joint venture projects on schedule. Al-Mohannadi has a Bachelor’s degree in applied engineering science from Portland State University in the US.

Contact - Tel: (+974) 473 8000

Mohamed Saleh al-Sada, Energy & Industry Affairs Minister

Prior to this cabinet appointment, Al-Sada was managing director of following the departure of Alex Dodds to head ExxonMobil Qatar. Previously, Al-Sada worked as technical director at Qatar Petroleum. During his tenure at RasGas, Al-Sada is overseeing the progression of a planned capacity boost from 16 million tonnes a year (t/y) of liquefied natural gas to an expected 37 million t/y by 2009. His newly created role, working under Energy Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, shows the value the government places on the gas industry in Qatar. Al-Sada is seen by many observers as a potential successor to Al-Attiyah. He holds a PhD from the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology in the UK, after previously graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Qatar University.

Contact - Tel: (+974) 449 1333

Ibrahim B Ibrahim, vice-chairman of RasGas/ economic adviser to the Emir of Qatar

Ibrahim joined the Qatar government in August 1988 as an economic expert before becoming economic adviser to Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Within RasGas, he is vice-chairman of the board of directors and chairman of the marketing committee. In addition, he sits on the board of Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and Industries Qatar, giving him a unique opportunity to guide the future growth of the state’s gas industry. Earlier this year, he was appointed to the position of secretary general for development planning. Prior to working in Qatar, Ibrahim was an associate business professor at the University of Hawaii, director of economic development at Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries and senior economist at Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. He holds a PhD in business administration from New York University.

Contact - Tel: (+974) 473 8000